11 Mistakes You're Making With Your Daily Skincare Routine

Skincare products need to be applied in the correct order to be fully absorbed into the skin, says Rachel Nazarian, M.D., a dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology in New York City. Generally, the order should be serum first, then lotion, and cream last. Keep in mind, some ingredients can dissolve and deactivate the ingredients in other products. So, in addition to knowing the correct order of application, if the ingredients don't work well together, you're wasting your time. Your best bet: Bring your products into your dermatologist's office to have her ensure you're applying them correctly.

Oily skin isn't necessarily hydrated skin, says Dendy Engelman, M.D., a New York City dermatologist. "The skin's ability to retain water is a separate function from the ability of the glands to produce oil. In fact, many people find they're less oily once they start maintaining a better skin barrier with vital water-retaining ingredients such as hyaluronic acid." Try Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream, which is loaded with hyaluronic acid, as well as anti-aging ingredients including amino acids, peptides and Vitamin B3, which helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles and improve skin's texture, making it a great moisturizer for all skin types. 

Your neck and décolletage are aging just as fast as your face, but when applying anti-aging products or sunscreen, so many people stop at the jawline, says Dr. Nazarian. Don't skip the ears and the back of the neck either; they're getting just as much radiation damage. Give your neck some love with Olay Regenerist Night Recovery Cream.

In some cases, using a half-dozen products can cause more harm than good, says Josh Zeichner, M.D., director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research at Mount Sinai Hospital's Department of Dermatology. Especially if you're using potentially irritating products, such as retinol, along with glycolic or salicylic acid, you may cause excessive skin irritation. Instead, find a simple routine and stick with it for more than just a week or two. Results do not occur overnight, and often take weeks or months to kick in.

If you're using retinol for its ability to increase skin cell turnover and minimize lines, you're on the right track — but use it wisely, since it can cause significant irritation for some people, says Dr. Zeichner. To minimize this risk, apply your moisturizer first to prime and hydrate the skin. Then apply retinol on top. Priming the skin with moisturizer can help reduce the risk of irritation, redness and dryness more than applying it to skin afterwards.

Incidental sun exposure for only 10 to 15 minutes a day adds up over time and can cause sun damage and accelerated photo aging, says Dr. Engelman. Keep a bottle of sunscreen on hand year-round, and make it part of your daily routine, regardless of the weather. Try Olay Complete All Day Moisturizer With Broad Spectrum SPF 30, which protects skin from harmful UVA/ UVB rays. Plus, the oil-free formula is gentle enough for sensitive skin and includes Vitamin E and aloe for lasting hydration.  

More scrubbing does not equal healthier skin, says Dr. Engelman, and in fact, it can trigger inflammation and weaken the skin's barrier function. "If the barrier function is damaged, skin becomes vulnerable to infection from microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungus, and can become sensitive and irritated. Even if the barrier function isn't visibly damaged, the skin may experience a low amount of inflammation, which over time prematurely ages skin," says Dr. Engelman. "Start with a once or twice a week exfoliation; your skin will tell you when you're doing it wrong: it will feel red, painful, or start to sting with your regular topical regimen," says Dr. Nazarian. Most normal skin types can handle a gentle scrub, or a chemical exfoliation with glycolic acid or lactic acid, says Dr. Nazarian.

Rubbing can easily irritate your skin. Always use light, gentle upward strokes when applying products to the face and neck, says Sejal Shah, M.D., a dermatologic surgeon in New York City. Try a lightweight serum like Olay Regenerist Miracle Boost Concentrate, which not only easily absorbs into the skin to enhance hydration, but it smoothes the texture as well. 

Hot water can strip the natural oils from your skin, says Dr. Engelman, leaving it dry and vulnerable to cracking. Losing these oils compromises the skin's barrier, making it susceptible to irritants. Hot water also causes dilation of blood vessels — which is linked to inflammation. It's best to shower and wash your face in warm-to-lukewarm water instead.

Your pillowcase can be quite the haven for bacteria and germs: Each night it accumulates more oils from your hair, saliva and bacteria from you skin, says Dr. Nazarian. As you toss and turn in your sleep, that mixture moves from the pillowcase to your face and back again. Change your pillowcase at least weekly to keep skin at its best.

Skin renews itself best at night, and leaving it exposed to free-radical particles in the skin that may accumulate throughout the day only perpetuates skin aging and damage, says Dr. Nazarian. Not to mention, sleeping in your makeup can increase your acne risk and rosacea flares, since bacteria trapped under makeup increases the risk of inflammatory skin conditions.